NFL players show disrespect by kneeling: Letters, Oct. 30

NFL players show disrespect by kneeling

Taking a knee?

It is saddening as well as insulting to see a gathering of millionaire football players show their disrespect and contempt for the anthem of the nation that gave them the opportunity to become so blessed. Common decency should give them pause to exercising this display of First Amendment freedom in front of thousands of spectators who came to see a game, not a lineup of lock-armed exhibitionists on one knee. A less offensive expression of their displeasure would be to stay in the locker room while the national anthem is being presented.

This newly implemented and well-organized show of disrespect for our country by adult football players is eclipsed by the happening in Illinois recently where a youth football team of 7- and 8-year-old players took the knee stance in a show of concern over the acquittal of a police officer in a St. Louis trial. Does anybody believe that children of that tender age can come to a reasoned conclusion and act on it without adults implanting the adult mindset and giving encouragement to the public display? Since protests of all types seem to grow with time and wider organization, can we reasonably fear that our youth are the next target for anti-American indoctrination?

I hear our national anthem and feel blessed by being a citizen of this country for these many years. So, NFL players, take a knee as you will. The blessings you currently enjoy far outweigh the perceived injustices you have endured. NFL teams are experiencing retaliation from offended fans evinced by empty seats and sponsorship withdrawal. Your income is from these sources. Play football, not politics.

W.S. (Bill) Pryor, Knoxville

Corker part of draining the swamp

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker has decided not to run for re-election. His recent performance suggests that we are best served by his decision. I recently wrote Corker, urging him to do his duty as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to investigate the leaking of president-to-foreign-leader phone call transcripts. All Americans should be concerned that the intelligence service or someone with appropriate clearance feels empowered to release secrets, as transcripts of discussions with foreign powers are generally classified. A felony, putting American foreign relations at risk, was committed twice. As Corker has not acted to protect American foreign policy by protecting the communications, he has abandoned his duty. Given what we are learning about Uranium One, a Canadian-based company with mining stakes in the Western United States in which the Russian nuclear energy agency was allowed to acquire a controlling stake, admittedly during John Kerry’s term in the same office, and the funding of the Steele dossier by the Clinton campaign and Democratic Party, which was leaked by some Washington legislator, it is clear that the swamp needs to be drained.

Corker has failed to conduct any meaningful investigation of any Russian interference in the recent presidential election. Is it because the interference was truthful leaking of information about the conduct of Democrats, or that any investigation would inevitably circle back to the legislature?

Corker has claimed that the Trump White House is an “adult day care center.” From my perspective, the difference between him and the Trump administration is that the administration is attempting to wade through the swamp. The swamp is united as the business of the republic is second to the overseers' own agenda. It's time to drain the swamp, and Corker is part of the cleansing.